The Code of Student Conduct was developed to inform students and parents of acceptable student behavior and the disciplinary alternatives for changing unacceptable behavior.

Code of Conduct: English | Spanish | Haitian Creole

PART ONE / RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PART TWO / GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

Part Three / Discipline and Appeal Procedures

Part Four / Breaches of Conduct

When deciding what disciplinary action should be taken, the principal or designee shall consider the student’s age, exceptionality, previous conduct, probability of a recurring violation, intent, attitude, severity of the offense, current supports in place/implemented and, whenever possible, shall impose disciplinary action in a progressive manner. 

Schools will supply a continuum of services to address the problem. These interventions are systemically applied, match the problem, and have sufficient intensity to address the need.

The goal of all consequences is to change the behavior. If a strategy is not changing the behavior, a new strategy is needed.

Progressive discipline requires that the levels be used in a progressive manner moving sequentially through the Levels unless the severity of the incident warrants a higher level. In creating safer and more effective schools, our aim is to prevent inappropriate behavior through teaching and reinforcing proper behaviors. Schools will attempt to provide a range of interventions that are systemically applied to students based on their demonstrated level of need and addresses the role of the environment as it applies to the development and improvement of appropriate behavior.

The following described acts or violations in this Part IV shall constitute Breaches of Conduct and include acts or conduct occurring at school or at school-sponsored activities, or on school property, a school bus or at a designated school bus stop if witnessed by a bus driver and/or bus attendant and shall not be confined to acts or conduct occurring on the school campus, if such acts or conduct directly affects the educational process or welfare
of the school community.

Part Five / Serious Breaches of Conduct

Schools will supply a continuum of services to address the problem. These interventions are systemically applied, match the problem, and have sufficient intensity to address the need.

The goal of all consequences is to change the behavior. If a strategy is not changing the behavior, a new strategy is needed.

The following described acts or violations in this Part V shall constitute Breaches of Conduct and include acts or conduct occurring at school or at school-sponsored activities, or on school property, a school bus or at a designated school bus stop if witnessed by a bus driver and/or bus attendant and shall not be confined to acts or conduct occurring on the school campus, if such acts or conduct directly affects the educational process or welfare of the school community.

Progressive discipline requires that the levels be used in a progressive manner moving sequentially through the Levels unless the severity of the incident warrants a higher level. In creating safer and more effective schools, our aim is to prevent inappropriate behavior through teaching and reinforcing proper behaviors. Schools will attempt to provide a range of interventions that are systemically applied to students based on their demonstrated level of need and addresses the role of the environment as it applies to the development and improvement of appropriate behavior.

Optional at Discretion of Principal

Any student suspended for fighting, battery, assault, or other confrontation may be given a Conflict Resolution Student Study Packet at the time of the suspension. The study packet may be obtained from the Mark Wilcox Center. This study packet must be satisfactorily completed by the student during the suspension and returned to the administrator or dean responsible for the first disciplinary action. If the student satisfactorily completes the study packet prior to the end of the suspension period, the suspension may be reduced by the administrator or dean after a meeting with the student and parent. The parent
has the responsibility to request the meeting.

Part Six / Forms

Voluntary School Messenger Opt-In Consent Form for General Messages

Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) utilizes an automated parent notification system to quickly and efficiently notify parents of important school and district information. Such notices may include information regarding school closures/delays, security alerts, absence notifications, cafeteria balances, and upcoming school activities. Due to recent changes to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), parents are now required to provide prior express consent to receive automated communications on their mobile device. This means parents must provide express consent to receive general messages through automated calls and/or SMS text messages on their mobile device(s). Consent is not required if the call or text is for emergency purposes or if made directly from a principal, teacher, or other staff member.

FORMS AVAILABLE AT YOUR SCHOOL

Please take a moment to fill out this consent form on enrollment paperwork or ask your school for a form indicating whether you desire to receive these important messages in the future. You can revoke consent to receive these messages at any time.

Glossary

EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT
For purposes of this Code of Student Conduct only, all references to “exceptional” students shall not include “gifted” students unless gifted students are expressly mentioned.:

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Extracurricular activities are defined as those activities that are not part of the regular course of study such as club meetings, sport events, graduation exercises, drama performances, field trips, band and marching performances, dances, proms, etc.

FACE COVERINGS
Acceptable face coverings may include commercially produced or homemade cloth face coverings, provided that they cover the nose, mouth and fit snugly against the sides of the person’s face with little to no gaps. Coverings cannot be made of mesh materials or have holes. Coverings may be of any color or design as long as they do not contain markings which are offensive, suggestive, disruptive or indecent as described in unacceptable attire in the Code of Student Conduct. Gaiters, surgical/procedural masks, N-95 masks, homemade masks are all acceptable. Plastic face shields may also be used in conjunction with an acceptable face covering. Bandanas, mesh masks with holes or ports are not acceptable.

PARENT
For purposes of this Code of Student Conduct, “parent” shall mean the parent or parents, or the guardian or guardians of a student enrolled in the Polk County Public Schools.

RE-ENTRY
Any student who is placed in a juvenile detention facility, county jail, commitment facility, or substance abuse treatment program may re-enter the Polk County School System only after approval from the appropriate hearing officer.

SCHOOL EMPLOYEE / PERSONNEL / STAFF
For purposes of this Code of Student Conduct, “school employees,” “school personnel,” or “school staff members” shall mean and include school administrators, teachers, paraeducators, school resource officers, substitutes, secretaries, bus drivers and attendants, cafeteria workers, custodians, coaches, school volunteers or adult chaperones, and any other person authorized to supervise or monitor students.

SEARCHES
A student’s locker, vehicle, purse, backpack, computer, personal communication device, and other personal possessions may be searched if there is a reasonable belief any of them contains drugs, weapons, contraband, or other items not permitted on campus. Trained sniff-screening dogs are allowed in the schools to prevent drugs and weapons. The routine checks by dogs are not considered a search by law. These are safety precautions to provide a safe and healthy school in which to learn. Strip searches of students by school personnel are prohibited. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to obstruct a law enforcement officer in the performance of his/her duty.

STUDENT
For purposes of this Code of Student Conduct, “student” shall mean a student or students in grades Pre-K through adult school enrolled in the Polk County Public Schools.